Alexandria Mom's Calendar of Events

Saturday, October 8, 2011

The WALK TO FIGHT BREAST CANCER will be held on Saturday, October 22nd.
This event supports the Breast Cancer Walk Fund for Early Detection at INOVA Alexandria Hospital.
The fund supports free mammograms and other diagnostic screenings for Alexandria women who don't have insurance and otherwise couldn't afford medical cares.

This is a 1.5k, 3.5k or 5k walk/run, whatever you want to do. And this WALK is for the entire family - strollers, dogs, kids are welcome!

Registration information:

$30 for adults, if registering before 10/20, $40 after 10/20.
$15 for children ages 2-12

Friday, October 7, 2011

Alexandria Residents Cautioned to Avoid Holmes Run (Update)(Clarification: see bolded text below)October 7, 2011As a precautionary measure, the City of Alexandria advises residents to avoid the waters of the Holmes Run stream crossing located near the intersection of Holmes Run Parkway and North Paxton Street (approximately 300 yards upstream of the Beatley pedestrian bridge) due to a sewage spill thatoccurred in a sewer line owned and maintained by Fairfax County.Residents are advised not to fish in or have any contact with the waters, including wading or swimming, until further notice. Parents are advised to keep children and pets away from the streams. Avoiding human and pet contact with these waters will help to eliminate the risk of exposure to untreated sewage from this spill.The advisory to avoid all contact is considered an extra precaution to allow the effect of the sewage spill to be diminished by natural flushing of the streams.City staff are currently investigating sanitary infrastructure to ensure there are no additional leaks or discharges contributing to this spill. Sewer overflow is currently being contained behind an existing concrete Check Dam downstream of the break, which prevents discharge from spreading further downstream. City staff, in coordination with Fairfax County, are on-scene to contain and clean up the spill as quickly as possible. For additional information, contact the Office of Environmental Quality at 703.746.4065.

Alexandria Residents Cautioned to Avoid Holmes RunOctober 7, 2011As a precautionary measure, the City of Alexandria advises residents to avoid the waters of Holmes Run crossing located near the intersection of Holmes Run Parkway and North Paxton Street (approximately 300 yards upstream of the Beatley pedestrian bridge), due to a sewage spill that occurred in Fairfax County.Residents are advised not to fish in or have any contact with the waters, including wading or swimming, until further notice. Parents are advised to keep children and pets away from the streams. Avoiding human and pet contact with these waters will help to eliminate the risk of exposure to untreated sewage from this spill.The advisory to avoid all contact is considered an extra precaution to allow the effect of the sewage spill to be diminished by natural flushing of the streams.City staff are currently investigating sanitary infrastructure to ensure there are no additional leaks or discharges contributing to this spill. Sewer overflow is currently being contained behind an existing concrete Check Dam downstream of the break, which prevents discharge from spreading further downstream. City staff, in coordination with Fairfax County, is on-scene to contain and clean up the spill as quickly as possible. For additional information, contact the Office of Environmental Quality at 703.746.4065.

City of Alexandria to Hold Annual Fall Tree Sale on Saturday, October 15 "Great Trees, Great Prices, and Great for Alexandria"

The City Alexandria’s Urban Forestry Section will hold a tree sale on Saturday, October 15 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Trinity United Methodist Church parking lot, located at 3001 Cameron Mills Road. The goal of the sale is to promote the preservation of the Alexandria’s tree canopy by encouraging the planting of trees on private property throughout the City.

The City’s tree supplier, Denison Landscaping and Nursery of Fort Washington, Maryland, will again provide a variety of trees, shrubs and annuals that are hardy and successful in this area. Trees and shrubs are sold in three to seven gallon containers that residents can easily handle and plant. Download the List of Available Trees of purchase and email or call the City Arborist to reserve your trees.

Residents can reserve trees for purchase in advance through October 13. No deposit is necessary. To reserve a tree, call the City Arborist Office, at 703.746.5496 or email City.Arborist@alexandriava.gov. When reserving your trees, please provide your name, telephone number, and the type and quantities of the tree that you plan to purchase.

Advance tree orders must be picked up between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 15. Reserved trees not picked up by 10 a.m. on the day of the sale will be made available to the public.

For additional information, call the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities’ Arborist office at 7703.746.5499.

Parking: On October 10, the Alexandria Police Department will suspend enforcement of parking restrictions at metered spaces, residential permit parking districts and other areas with signed parking time limits.

Recreation Centers: The Chinquapin Park Recreation Center will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on October 10. All other City recreation centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Refuse Collection: Residential refuse and recycling will not be collected on October 10. Collection services will be delayed by one day during the week of October 10. The Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Collections Drop-off Center will be closed on October 10.

Schools: Alexandria City Public Schools will be closed on October 10.

State Offices: The following Commonwealth of Virginia offices located in Alexandria will be closed on October 10: the Circuit, General District, and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts, and the DMV Office on 2681 Mill Rd.

Transit: Alexandria Transit Company’s DASH bus service will operate on a Saturday schedule on October 10.

Dr. Laurie Dietzel is a licensed psychologist in D.C. and Maryland who completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Neuropsychology at the Kennedy-Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She has worked at day and residential schools for children with learning and more severe developmental disabilities and served as Director of Diagnostic Services at Kingsbury, a private nonprofit educational organization, in Washington, D.C. Dr. Dietzel is currently in private practice in Silver Spring, Maryland at Dietzel Butler & Associates, conducting evaluations with children and adults and providing local and national trainings to mental health, medical, and educational professionals. Areas of expertise include AD/HD, executive dysfunction, learning disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders, giftedness, and anxiety disorders.

She is the co-author, with Joyce Cooper-Kahn Ph.D., of Late, Lost and Unprepared: A Parent’s

Guide to Helping Children with Executive Functioning (Woodbine Press, 2008.)

To RSVP or for more information please contact Mónica Sanjur or Johnathan Harris at 703-706-4552 or 571.237.1554 monica.sanjur@acps.k12.va.us

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

City Council Invites Public to Provide Input on Fiscal Year 2013 Budget

On Saturday, October 15, the public is invited to attend City Council’s regularly scheduled public hearing to offer comments regarding the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program, which begins July 1, 2012. Residents are encouraged to provide input on how the City should use its limited financial resources to meet its most important community goals.

Individuals with disabilities who require assistance or individuals needing special arrangements should call the City Clerk at 703.746.4550 (TTY/TDD 703.838.5056). We request that you provide a 48-hour notice so that the proper arrangements may be made.

DEL RAY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION is collecting Halloween costumes for children who would otherwise have to go without. We will be collecting donated costumes at the Caboose Cafe, 2419 Mt. Vernon Avenue and A Show of Hands, 2301 Mt. Vernon Avenue, and distributing them on Saturday, October 29, from 2-4 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Avenue. We are especially in need of larger size costumes.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

American Planning Association Designates King Street One of “Top 10 Great Streets” for 2011

The American Planning Association (APA) today announced the designation of King Street as one of 10 Great Streets for 2011 under the organization’s Great Places in America program. APA Great Places exemplify exceptional character and highlight the role planners and planning play in creating communities of lasting value.

“King Street has been a Great Street since 1749. Through each subsequent era, King Street has successfully maintained its significance as Alexandria's commercial center and gathering place, thanks to careful planning, community involvement, and historic preservation,” said Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille.

APA singled out King Street as a bustling hub of activity – a place where people gather to celebrate, conduct business, explore the past, or simply enjoy a view of the Potomac River. The street’s Colonial past is in evidence today due to a variety of foresighted protections adopted by Alexandria since its inception 262 years ago

To formally announce this prestigious award, a celebration will be held at the intersection of King and Union Streets beginning at 5 p.m., featuring music, performers, art, and food. At 6 p.m., Mayor Euille, members of Alexandria City Council, and the City of Alexandria will be presented with the award by the APA.

Through Great Places in America, APA recognizes unique and authentic characteristics found in three essential components of all communities – streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces. APA Great Places offer better choices for where and how people work and live every day and are defined by many things including planning efforts, architectural styles, accessibility, and community involvement. Since APA began Great Places in America in 2007, 50 Neighborhoods, 50 Streets and 40 Public Spaces have been designated in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

For more information about the 2011 APA Great Streets, 10 Great Neighborhoods and 10 Great Public Spaces designations, visit www.planning.org/greatplaces.

Participating Alexandria restaurants, spas, and stores will donate a portion of their proceeds from various times throughout the day to The Walk to Fight Breast Cancer, which supports Alexandria's Breast Cancer Funds at Inova Alexandria Hospital Foundation.